Ampoule syringe



July 5, 1949. A'. E. SMITH AMPOULE SYRINGE mea .my 1o, '1947 PatentedJuly 5, 1949 irse STATE-s AMPOULE SYRINGE `Arthur E. Smith, Los Angeles,Calif.

Application July 10, 1947, Serial No. 759,964

(Cl. 12S-'220) 5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to syringes.

The general object of theinvention is toA provide an improved syringewhich is simple in construction, efficient in use and which can beeconomically manufactured.

A more specific object of the invention `is to provide a syringeincluding av barrelhavingA a novel plunger therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel piston cork foruse'in a syringe.

vA further object of the invention is to provide a novel sliding plungerfor use in a disposable syringe.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the`followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein Fig. 1 is an extended side elevation, partly in section, showingmy syringe and showing an apparatus for lling the medicinal ampule. orcontainer;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing Vthecompleted syringe;

Fig 3 is an enlarged, central sectional view showing the syringe beforeit is prepared for use;

Fig. 4 is an elevation,` partly in section, showing the syringe after ithas ,been prepared for use, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the syringe in use.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, I have shown myinvention as embodied in a syringe which is indicated generally at I. Asshown the syringe includes a barrel forming ampule II and a plunger i2.The barrel and plunger may be of transparent glass, plastic or othersuitable material and both are preferably cylindrical tubes with theplunger I2 cf'slightly less external diameter than the internal diameterof the ampule.

As shown the ampule is provided with a closure I3 which includes a bodyhaving an external ampule engaging skirt I4, with aninternal axialrecess I5 closed by a diaphragm I1. The closure I3 includes a peripheralbead yI8 engageable by the thumb of the user to prevent slipping duringinjection.

The plunger I2 has a piston stopperV 20 therein. The stopper includesabody 2l arranged 2 in the ampule end and having an outwardly facingrecess 22 therein. The stopper also has an interior facing recess 23with an enlarged recess 24 communicating with the recess 23. Therecesses 2l, 22 and 23 are coaxial and aligned with the recess I5. Adiaphragm 25 separates the recesses 22 and 23.

The stopper 2li is provided with a series of beads 25 which are spacedwithv the innermost bead A spaced from the end 2l oi the stopper to forma shoulder 2l'. The closure i3 and the stopper 20 are made of eithernatural or synthetic rubber and the parts are molded so that the skirtIQ tightly engages the exteriory of the ampule. The body ZI of thestopper 20 is normally larger than the bore of the ampule it so that thestopper must be forced into place and as a result, due to the expansionof the rubber, there is a slight bulge at 23 when the stopper is pushedinto the ampule. This provides a cirn cumferential groove 29 between theouter bead B and the adjacent end of the ampule.

in manufacturing the syringe, the piston cork 2o is inserted in one endof the ampule as shown inFig. l, with the closure i3 in place. Ahypodermic needle 30, which communicates with the chamber 3 I of afilling apparatus 32 is then passed through the diaphragm Il and theplunger 33 oi the'lling apparatus is advanced as by turning a threadedmembery 3d. As the medicinal material, which may be penicillin-oil-wax,enters the ampule the piston plunger 2t is moved forwardly a distanceproportional to the amount of `material to Abe injected until it reachesthe desired position such, for example, the position shown in Fig. 2,whereupon. the needie Sii is withdrawn and the diaphragm I l, due to theresiliency of the rubber, springs b-acl; to place, filling theholethrough which the needle passed, thereby causing'the contents toremain in a sterile condition.

`The plunger YI2 is provided with a iront end closure 35 which is in thenature of a cap,.hav-

ing a skirt 36 and a peripheral bead 3l, which maybe grasped by theyingers of the operators hand. "The front member 35 includes atip 38,

having a hemispherical recess 39 in the front end vand having a recessor hole 40 therein. The inner .end of the recess isclosed byy adiaphragm 40. A needlev 4I extends through the hole 40 and diaphragm 4D.The needle has a hemispherical protuberance 42 thereon. The inner end ofthe needle 43 is arranged in the recess E2 and is spaced from thediaphragm The front member 35 is made of rubber and the tip 38 supportsa cap ld which protects the needle against contamination. The closurecap 4G may be made of flexible plastic material and in use this closurecap lid is rst removed after which the protuberance f2.2 is moved intothe recess Sil, carrying with it the needle and causing the needle topierce the diaphragm 25, thereby establishing communication between theinterior of the ampule and the needle. The parts thus assume theposition shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the operator may grasp the syringethe manner shown in Fig. 5 and may insert the needle as shown in thisgiue and may then, by grasping the bead 3l with two ngers and engagingthe closure i3 with the thumb make the desired insertion and injection.

After the needle has been inserted into the patient, the ampule il maybe slightly advanced along the piston cork and then withdrawn and anydiscoloration due to the presence of blood in the ampule will indicatethat the needle is in a blood vessel so that the operator may .vithdrawthe needle and make a fresh insertion.

The arrangement of the beads A and B peril its easy movement of thepiston relative to the am pule. When the piston moves in and out of theampule the beads are free to shift slightly and move almost withoutfriction alongr the ampule wall. If the beads were close together theshifting would cause one bead to strike another and this would cause ajamming action, which is objectionable to the surgeon.

It will be noted that the inner pointed end oi the needle is spaced onthe diaphragm so that it requires that the needle move inside the ironter# member 38 to permit the syringe to be prepared ior use. |Thismovement of the needle I deem of great importance inasmuch as it enablesme to provide a syringe which is normally hermetically sealed yet may bereadily prepared for injection by merely taking oi the cap it andadvancing the needle into the plunger so that the diaphragm 25 ispierced.

Having thus described my application, I claim:

1. A medicament holding ampule, said ampule r comprising a cylindricalbody, a closure at one end of said body, said closure including a bodyportion having a skirt engaging the rear end portion of the ampule, saidclosure having an axial recess therein, a diaphragm closing one end ofsaid recess, a plunger in and slidable in relation to said ampule, saidplunger comprising a cylindrical, tubular body having a piston stopperin one end thereof, said piston stopper comprising a soft, resilientbody portion inserted in said plunger and having spaced beads thereon,said spaced beads slidably engaging the interior wall of the ampule, theinnermost of said beads being spaced from the end of the stopper toprovide a shoulder, there being a peripheral channel between theoutermost bead and the adjacent end of the plunger, said piston stopperhaving an axial recess therein with a diaphragm closing one end of saidrecess and a front member on said plunger.

2. A syringe including a medicament holding ampule, said ampulecomprising a cylindrical body, a closure at one end of said body, saidclosure having an axial recess therein, a diaphragm closing one end ofsaid recess, a plunger slidable in said ampule, said plunger comprisinga cylindrical, tubular body having a piston stopper in one end thereof,said piston stopper comprising soft, resilient body portion inserted insaid plunger and having spaced beads thereon, said piston stopper havingaxial recesses therein with a diaphragm between said recesses, a frontmember on said plunger, said front member having a hole therethrough, aneedle carried by said front member and extending through said hole, theinner end of said needle being disposed in the outermost recess of saidpiston stopper and spaced from the diaphragm of the piston stopper.

3. A syringe including a medicament holding ampule, said ampulecomprising a cylindrical body, a closure at one end of said body, saidclosure having an axial recess therein with a diaphragm closing one endof said recess, a plunger slidable in said ampule, said plungercomprising a cylindrical, tubular body having a piston stopper in oneend thereof, said piston stopper comprising a soft, resilient bodyportion inserted in said plunger and having spaced beads thereon, saidspaced beads slidably engaging the interior wall ol the ampule, theinnermost of said beads being spaced from the end of the stopper toprovide a shoulder, there being a peripheral channel between theoutermost bead and the adjacent end of the plunger, said piston stopperhaving axial recesses therein with a diaphragm between said recesses, afront member on said plunger, said iront member having a holetherethrough, a needie carried by said front member and extendingthrough said hole, the inner end of said needle being disposed in theoutermost recess of said piston stopper and spaced from the diaphragmor" the piston stopper.

fi. A syringe including a medicament holding ampule, said ampulecomprising a cylindrical body, a closure at one end of said body, saidclosure including a body portion having a skirt engaging the rear endportion of the ampule, said closure having an axial recess therein, adiaphragm closing the inner end of said recess, a plunger slidable insaid ampule, said plunger comprising a cylindrical, tubular body havinga piston stopper in one end thereof, said piston stopper comprising asoft, resilient body portion inserted in said plunger and having spacedbeads thereon, said spaced beads slidably engaging the interior wall ofthe ampule, the innermost of said beads being spaced from the end of thestopper to provide a shoulder, there being a peripheral channel betweenthe outermost bead and the adjacent end of the plunger, said pistonstopper having axial recesses therein `with a diaphragm between saidrecesses, a front member on said plunger, said front member including atapering tip portion and a skirt portion about the end portion of theplunger and having a peripheral bead on the skirt portion thereof, saidiront member having a hole therethrough, a needle carried by said irontmember and extending through said hole, the inner end of said needlebeing dispose in the outermost recess of Said piston stopper land spacedfrom the diaphragm of the piston stopper, a protuberance on said needlein advance of said tapered tip and a cap on said tapered tip andsurrounding the outer portion of said needle.

5. A syringe including a medicament holding ampule, said ampulecomprising a cylindrical body, a closure at one end of said body, saidclosure having an axial recess therein, a diaphragm closing one end ofsaid recess, a plunger slidable in said ampule, said plunger comprising2,475,060 5 6 a cylindrical, tubular body having a piston stop-REFERENCES CITED per in one end thereof, said piston stopper having anaxial recess therein, a diaphragm closing the inner end of said recess,a front member on The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

said plunger, said front member having a hole 5 UNITED STATES FATENTStherethrough, a needle carried by said front i member and slidablyextending through said lulll HauNa'me Majtelgqz hole, the inner end ofsaid needle being disposed 2408325 Lockai; "Sept 24 1946 in theoutermost recess of said piston stopper and spaced from the diaphragm ofthe piston 10 FOREIGN PATENTS stopper, said needle being movable topierce said Number Country Date diaphragm to thereby place said needlein com- 334207 France Dm 15J 1993 munication with the interior of theampule.

ARTHUR E. SMITH.

